The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-01-14
SELECT READING.
REPORT OF THE sUPERINTEND DENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION,

DR. +. +. Higbee, superintendent of
for the year ending June 7, 1856. We
CLEAN the following from it: The male
teachers of the state in 1880, outside
OF Philadelphia numbered 9,655, female
teachers 9,655. In 1886 there are
S,707 male teachers, aud 12,3l3 female.
Students in attendance at Normal
schools, the past year, 1899. Total
number attending since the foundation
of Normal schools, 67,073 D>tribu-
tion of state aud for Normal school
students, in the sixth DISTRICT, for grad
uatcs S2,750; for under!ra iuates, 80.
05l. Estimated value of school urcp-
prty in Columbia county 1928, ,65l.
Permanent certificates granted, 20.
Member of school houses ia county,
l55, unfit for use, IA; with suitable
furniture, 100; II are well supplied
with apparatus are without proper
conveniences l6t persons received
provisional certificates rejected appli-
cants, II male teachers, l09, female
teachers, ll9; average age of teachers
25 67 have taught more than years;
II intend to make teaching a perma-
nent business 80 have attended state
normal school, and 35 are graduates
number of visits to schools by Superin-
tendent Grimes, $50. AT these visits
only ii directors were present al differ
ent times. Ouly 2S schools are regu-
larly visited by directors. Estimated
number of children of school age not
in school, S20 average salary of male
teachers per month, S34S4, average
of females, S27.70; male scholars A.
sos females, 4,142 average number
attending school, 5,726; cost per month
.S3 mills levied for school purposes,
6.SS; for building purposes, 3.46; total
amount levied for school aud building
purposes, S56,s05,ls.
Speaking of the low salaries paid
female teachers DR.. Higbee says:
We regret that there should be, on
the part of our school directors, any
such false economy. There should be
no discrimination in salaries except
that which is based upon merit. Pri.
mary instruction is the most difficult
work Of the schools. 1t must be of the
most thorough character if the subsr.
guent educational work is to be success
ful. Wherever it is efficiently done,
it should receive its proper remuner
alton. To discriminate against it, is tc
make the foundation of the building
weak at the peril of the whole super
structure. Salaries here should be
greatly increased to secure the very
highest talent attanable, and such in
crease will be found to add to the
wages of our female teachers. Theil
average monthly salary, excluding
Philadelphia, is now only twenty-nine
dollars and forty-one cents. This is by
far too small for good and efficient
teachers, AMI quite too large for poor
ones, if measured by educational re-
suits.
He advocates an increase in the
length of term and the salaries of teach
ers, and suggests that the state make
larger appropriations to the schools.
He also suggests that the Legislature
should require every school board to
appoint an officer, whose duty it shall
be 20 take census every year of all
children of school age in the district
of all who attend sch ol, and those
who do not. This, reported to the de-
partment would furnish statistics upon
which to base Legislation in protection n
of the young, who are growing up in
ignorance.